Vulcanizing apparatus and method



E. BLAKER VULCANIZING APPARATUS AND METHOD Oct. 26 1926. Z

Filed May 26. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l lllllli E. BLAKER VULCANIZ'INGAPPARATUS :AND METHOD Filed May 26.

Patented Oct. Z6, 1926, i

,l La@ ERNEST BLAKER, F V.PtIlC)l', OHIO,`ASSIGOR TO THE B. F. GKOGDBCHCOMPANY, OF NEV YORK, N. Y., A COREORATION OF YORK.

vULcAnrzine Arrannfius Ann ivmrnon.

' Application filed May 26,

This invention relates to the art of vulcanizing rubber articles `andparticularly to vulcanizingsuch articles by injecting a heating iiuidinto a container enclosing the articles, as in the case vof avulcanizing pot such as is generally used for automobile tires and otherrubber goods.l

The articles areV commonly enclosed in molds, a plurality of which areenclosed in the vuloanizer, the latter at this stage being full `of air.Steam is then injected into the vulcanizer, where it'mirxes with the aircontained therein, the pressure of the steam serving to reduce thevolume of the air, and thus givinga .mixture of air and steam as aheating medium. Such vulcanizers heretofore havebeen vented to permitthe escape igea seriai No. 563,752.

proved apparatus adapted to apply substantially air-free steam atapproximately y mentioned. f

A further object is to provide a convenient and economical apparatus forthe pui poses stated, which may be assembledwithout coupling of pipesand whichmay be adapted to dispose of the air with a mini- 4mum loss ofsteam through the vent.

Of the accompanying drawings:`

Fig. 1 is a vertical'section, with parts in elevation and parts brokenaway, of a vulof air and water of condensation so as to obtain ra largerratio of steam to air in thev heating medium, and consequently a moreuniform application of heat to the articles to be vulcanized, butinmethods and api' .paratus heretofore used, so far as I am aware, theventing ofthe air has been so f limited in amount 'or so slow that, atbest, the heating medium during a substantial part of the vulcanizingperiod hasbecn a" f mixture containing a large percentage or air.

-Vaiid ramlQ. As such a mixture usually is'iiot unifl form throughoutthe interior of the vulcanizer, heat of different degrees isV applied todifferent articles, or different parts of anf article, and non-uniformvuleanization results. Steam and air both being compaiativelv doorconductors of heat considerable time is required for equalization oftemperature throughout the mixture, and meanwhile vulcanization pr seedsmore rapidly at one point in the vulcanizer than at an other. The totalvulcaiiizing period, moreover, is unduly long, not only because ofv thetime necessary to bring the temperatur of the entrapped air up to thatof the steam,

but because the condensing` of vthe steam from the mixture adjacent therelatiif'ely.A cool molds or articles leaves a film of sub-r stantiallypure air surrounding the latter,

and this film acts as an insulator against" the passage of heat to thearticle.

The general objects of myinveiition are to shorten the time necessaryfor the vulcanizing operation and to obtain a uniform vulcanizationthroughout E mftclesi A. further obieet is to prerfirlaim@ thek articleor Vcanizing apparatus embodying and adapted .t-ion, with parts brokenaway and in section.`

Fig. l is a fragmentary end elevation of said modification, with thevulcanizing chamber open.

Referring to the drawings, 10 is a'vertical vulcanizer potor" press,ypreferably circular in section, having the usual rain cylinder 11 13,13 are/annular tire molds stacked on the vhead 14 of said ram, one ofthe tires within said molds being shown at 15 (Fig. 1), andthecorewithin said tire The ram head 14 consists/of aseries of radial webs 17,17 joining an inner ring 18 with an outer 19, the upper surfaces of saidwebs and rings lying in the same horizontal plane and being thus adaptedto support the `staclr of molds; The inner ring is formed with aperturesthrough its wall between the webs'l?, one of said apertures being shownat 2() 1.)',to'permit the passage of heatiiigiiuid from the spacesurrounded by the stack of molds to the region of the vulcaiiizeroutside of the stacl of molds.A

The lid, 21, of the vulcanizer 10, is formed with lugs 22, 22, on itsouter periphery adapted to interlock with lugs 23, 23 on the 'innerperiphery of a collar 23a at the top of the press, and to be disengagedtherefrom, for the removal of the lid by a partial revolution of thelatter.` Said lid is centrally formed with a depending cup-like annularharige or ring 24h internally braced by radia al webs 25, 25 andexternally by radial webs 26, 26said webs being, as here shown, integralwith said rings and with the cover proper, the lowerfaces of said ring24 and the last mentioned webs, 26, lying in the same horizont-al planeand being thus adapted to abut the upper tace of the up-y permost moldot ythe stack, as an upper platen for the press oi which the-.ram-head14 constitutes the lower platen. The ring v24is somewhat larger than thecentral space surrounded by the annular moldsso that it bears, with a.substantial sealing effect, upon the' upper face of the top mold, aboutsaid space; Said ring is formed withan aperture 27 through its, wallbetween two adjacent webs 26, to permit the passage of heating fluidfrom the space outside ofthe 'stack ofi molds to the space insidethereof,

as indicated bythe arrows in Fig. 1.

For suppling the heating fluid to the vul-V canizer kprovide an inletpipe 28 entering the vulcanizer through the vertical wall of the latternear the top and terminating, within the vulcanizer, 1n ahorizontalnozzle 29 having an open end 30 directed tangentially with regard to thespace surrounding the molds, and being formed on its upper side withapertures 31, 31 adapted to direct a jet or jets of heating fluid upwardbetween the adjacent webs v 26, between which the aperture 27 ispositioned in the ring 24, so that said heating fiuid will pass throughvsaid yaperture and into the space surroundedby the stack of molds 13'.

For venting the water of `condensation from the'vulcanizer lprovide anoutlet pipe leading from the lowest part of the vulcanizin'g chamber toa trap 38 adapted to permit the out-'flow ot water but to prevent thepassage of fluidssi'ichV as steam or air, and for venting theair Iprovide an outlet l pipe 34 leading from a substantially higher part ofthe vulcanizer to a temperature-controled trap 35.

The water-venting trap here shown is of the type commonly called abucket-trap,

' comprising a covered vessel or pot 36,'into which. depends, from itscover, a bracket 37, on which is pivoted a'bucket 88, which is ofnieta-lor other material-heavier than water,

so that said bucket will sink when filed with water i'rom the vulcanizen39 is a push rod p'ivctally mounted on the bucket 38 and adapted toclose an outlet valve 40 .when said bucket rises and to open it whensaid bucket descends, said rod extending upward to said valve through anipple 41 depending from the cover into said bucket and communicating,through thev valve 40, with a discharging pipe 42..y The trap 33 isgthusadapted intermittently to ydischarge water- Vv:trom the bucket 88through the pipe 42, the

" valve 40 remaining open, lafter the bucket fills and sinks, until thefluid pressure from tion. as to fioa-t and close the valve before thewater-level therein drops below the mouth ot the nipple 4.1.

The temperature-controlled, trap 35, asI here shown, is ot ra typeheretofore known in other types of apparatus,v and comprises a valve 43in a discharge conduit V44 leading from. the pipe. 34, a diaphragm t-o'p45 for said valveadapted to be actuated by anv air line46 leading fromanair pressure controller (not shown)v and a liquidfilled tube 47leadingy from a thermonietric bulb member 48, mounted in the conduit 44,

to said air pressure.controller, for varyingv the pressure in the airline 46m accordance `with pressure changes in the tube 47 induced bytemperature changes in the con-- duit 44:. The trap 35 is thus adaptedto permit the discharge of air and steam from fb the vulcanizer so longastheir temperature does not exceed a certain degreedetermined by thesetting of the trap, but `to close against their passage when suchVdegree of temperature is reached.

The temperature-controlled, air-venting trap is providedwith anormally-closed bypass 35, and the water-ventingtrap `38 isV providedwith a normally-closed by-pass 33,

so that the respective traps Vmay be cut, out

of the discl'iarge lines onoccasion, as in the air-venting case of`making repairs or adjustments of the traps without discontinuing theuseof he vulcanizer. Said by-'passes may also .be opened more or less,especially during the early stage ot venting the vulcanizer, tosupplement the venting action oit the traps and thus mere rapidly todispose of the air and water.

In the operation of the apparatus shonfn in Figs. 1 2, thetire-containing molds 13l kbeing mounted in the vulcanizer, asA shown,and the latter closed. steam is ad-` mitted thereto through the inletpipe 28, part of said steam being jette-.cl tarieentiallyv into theupper part of' the vulcanizf l p the open end 30 ot the nozzleQ-f), L.1d lpart of it being directed upward, through the apertures 31 of saidnozzle into the vulcanizer cover 21 and trein there into thesmacevsurrounded by the molds. i

The application otstenm to the inner and outer peripheries of theannular molds'is thus practically simultaneous, and is accomplishedwithout the necessity of making any iii() steam into tl pipe connectionsuch as heretofore has been necessary in injecting steam through thevulcanizer cover into the chamber formed by the stack oi moles. l do notWholly limit my claims, however, to the 'jetting of the cover asdistinguished trom conducting it thereinto.l

The ring 2d and the aperture 27 ot' 'the cover being ot relatively largesteen-conductnfr capacity, the velocity of the current of steam isreduced betere it enters said' chamber, so that it does not mix with anundue ai'nount of the air therein, as would occur if it were jetteddirectly fthereinto, but on the contrary moves gradually downward,pushing the air betoreit, With a minimum mixing,- of the two.

IThe part et the steam which enters the space between the` stach ofmolds and the yulcanizer wall, being` directed tangentially, sets up arapid circulation of steam around the stack of molds, so that th(` partsot the molds at the other side oi the yulcanizer from the nozzle 29 areheated sulfistantially as fast as the parts adjacent said nozal andthere is no local over-heatinn` yoi the molds such asinightoceur if the`iet ot incoming` steam impinged directly upon the n'iolds,thehoriZontalli7 whirling body oi steam moves'downward it pushes the airbefore it With less'general mixing of theI two `than Would occur iiethel steam were j etted downwardinstead of in the hor' '.ontal,tangentialv direction.,V and the current ot steam about the moldsdispersos such lilm of air as may form next to the molds by reason ofthe condensation otsteam ytrom the mixture adjacent thereto.

ln order that the actionV of` the two branches oi' the incoming vcurrentof steam, as described., maycontinue.downward past the entire stack oimolds,'it is important that the Water of condensation and air be 'freelyand rapidly vented trom the lower part of the yulcanizino' chambern and.l tind l D that this is accomplished, rapidly and with a Very smallloss'of steam, by the use of'y y the separa e traps for air andwaterrespec- 'tii stantially above the Water vent, so that'its action isy nothampered by the presence et the air vent'being positioned. sub- Water.Since the temperature oie the Water may Vary considerably from that oftheair, tl e steam, or a mixture of the tivo, the passage of anysubstantial quantity' of Water through the temperature controlled trapwould render the temperature control ot the latter siugrish andinaccurate, Whereas` with only air or steam passingl through said trap,its temperature control is more accurately responsive to theeii'ectiife. temperature existinn' in the region of the molds.liloreorer`y l the air may he substantially all lischargied,

before it has time to' mix `,frenerally with 'the steam, sincethe airdoes not have to await" vthe b V-pass the discharge oie-the Water is theWhere,bothare vented through the saine outlet.

ents of steam passing` through the 'i/'ulcanser inside and outside otthe stack of molds can be so proportioned that the air will be exhaustedrrom the interior and exterior oi'Vv the mold stack in substantially thesame length ot time, so that substantially uniform vulcanination of' thetires is effected. "The air being quickly Vented, it does not require tobe heated by the incoming steam.

lVhen ythe fluid Within the vulcanizer has reached the desiredtemperature, predetermined by the setting` of the trap 35, which it doesvery promptly.r saidtrap automatically' closes the valve 43, and theVulcanizing temperature thus is accurately determined fromsul'istantially the beginning of the' operation il rco-Ver, the heatingyiiuid consistingr entirely, or almost entirely, oat steam, thetemperature thronghouty the rvulcanizing` period can be more accuratelycont-rolled by steam pressure than is the case Where a mixturecomprising a large but uncertain proportion ot air is used, since thetemperature oi such a mixture can not be so accurately ascertained fromthe steam pressure as can that of pure saturated steam.

lllhile l have described the venting ofthe air and Water through thetraps only, l do not Wholly limit my invention to such mode otprocedure. The ouiclraction of the traps may be supplemented by openi o*the by-pass or 33a, or botln at the beginning of the vulcanizing'operationv and then closing them beilore vthe by-pass discharges anysubstantial quantity of air or ster-impor betere Y 35 discharges anyvsubstantial quantity ol steam or air at ay temperature above that atwhich the trap is set to close.

In the modification shownin Fi. 8 and ll,

ycertain features of the invention areadapted JSor use with a horizontalvulcanizer 49, which. is provided at its top With a steam supply pipe50. Said ysupplyy pipe enters the elongated vuleanizer near the middlethereof and communicates with a long pipe 5l sup'- 'ported horizontallyin the upper part of the TJulca isms chamber and extending substantiallyto the ends thereof.L The pipe 51 is closed at its ends and is formed,throughout its length, with numerous small spaced perforations 52, 52 inits Walls, sothat steam will be introduced at substantially the sametime and at the same low kVelocity throughout the upper region ot theVulcanizing cham'- ber.l A water Venting trap k83, the parts of whichare designated by the same numerals as in Fia. l. 1s providech the pipe32 connecting it with the bottom ot theyulcanizing chamber. Atemperature controlledy airlll) i and equallyvspaced, they are adaptedto per- I to ' points along` the loiver mit the air Vto escape uniformlyfrom all region of the vulcan- 'izing chamber.

In this nroditicatioinas in the` apparatus Vshown in Figs. 1 and 2, thesteam enters the vulcanizing chamber at the top While the air and Waterare separately vented at the bottoni, the air thus being promptlydisposed of Without becoming generally mixed with the steam. A heating`medium oit substantially uniformtemperature is thereby quickly obtained,the air vent is automatically closed 1 when the desired temperature isreached and the temperature VWithin the chamber thereafter conforms,closely to the theoretical temperature corresponding* to the steampressure used. ln both of the embodiments here -slioivn advantage istakenv .ot the fact that, at 'a given temperature and pressure, air isheavier than steam, the difference in their Weight being utilized toavoid excessive mir:-

ng of the tvvo. Al' do not Wholly limit invention, however, to injectingthe steam at Y the top oiC the vulcanizer and ventingl the air at thebotom,although ,this is a substantial advantage, nor do l otherwisedesire tov limit a it except `asrequired ,by the prior art or as deiinedin the appended claims.

' I claim: Y

iQV-ulcanizing apparatus comprising a a containerfor the article to bevulcanized,

means for supporting;` tlie article therein `substantially above the`bottom thereof, steamgconductiiig means ,opening into the articlesurrounding space `of said containeratthe top ot the latter, and meansfor venting air t `Itromrsaid container, saidair-ventingmeans "leadingoli from a point `substantially alcove the bottom .of said container,`but ,below ythe .article supported gtlierein.l

' 2. Vulcanizing apparatus l comprising a container for ,the article tobe vulcanized, lsteaifnconducting means opening into said ,container atthe ,topot the latter, and a Vteinperatuie controlled air-ventingtrap,lt-raclinggofi ,fromsaid r,container at a point near but substantiallyabove the ,-lovvermost part ,3. Yulcanizing apparatus comprisingv a:container Yfor the article to loe vulcanized,

`means torsupporting the article therein substantially above the ybottomthereof, steamconducting means opening into said container approximatelyat thev top oft the latter, means tor venting airfrom said container,said air-venting ineans leading oliV from a point substantially abovethe bottom' of said container, but loelovv the article supportedtherein, and means. responsive to fluid conditions obtainingiii saidcontainer for vautomatieallyclosingsaid air-venting means.

4. Vulcanizing apparatus 'comprising a cont nor for the article to loevulcanized,

steam-conducting means opening into said container at one terminalportion thereof,

and a temperaturecontrolled, air-venting .i

trap leading oftfi'oin the other terminal por tion at a point near butsubstantially above the lowest part of said container.

Vulcanizing apparatus comprising a container lor the article to bevulcanized, means tor conductinpr a currentv ot steam into the upperfpart ot' said container, means4 for reducing the velocity of saidcurrent 'ithont substantial adinixtuif'e of air theretobetere it`approaches the central region ofy saidcontainer, and ani-venting meansVleading' ott -troni the loiverf part vot'said'container. 1 f v (5,l/'ulcanizing apparatus .comprising a iluidlconducting inlet openinginto said container near the top thereof-a Water-venting' trap leadingotvtifointlieV loiyer part of said container and aA temperaturecontrolledain venting trap leading' oit from said container at a pointYsubstantially Fablove that from which saidwvater-venting trapA leads,"l

Y. Vulcanizinn apparatus comprising a. container for the larticleV to bevulcanized,

fluid-conducting'y means opening i'nt'o "fsaid container, a-Wat YC'temperature vcontrolled` aiiveiiting" trap p venting ytrap leading'ironi the loiver part ot" said container,a 1

llt)

lcontainer for the article'to be vulcanized,

Hill

leading oit non'i said container ata point Y substantially 'above' thatVfrom Which' said Waterventing trap leads,Y and additional means l'torventing fluid from said Container Without causing itV to pass `througheither of said traps. n i A' 8. Vulcanizing` apparatus; comprising acontainer `for the article to bevulcanized,

said container being Asiibst'aiitially oitcircu-Y lar section,steam-conducting"means `ope`n ing into one end por, nthereopt anda`dapt-l ed to ,direct a current `et steam taiigentially thereinto, andair-ventingmeam'leading otf from the opposite end portion ofVsaidconminer. a y i t 9. Vulcanizing.;` apparatus comprising acontainer for tliearticle to viilcanized.v means for injectingsteaintangeiitially into the upper part thereoiand `means fervent-f ing;air from 'the lower part thereof."A

1Q. Vulcanizing apparatus comprising` a container `for the article to bevulcanized,

lineans for njectingsteam tangentially into iio the upper part thereof,means for venting water or' condensation from the lower part thereof,and separate air-venting means leading oil from a point near butsubstantially above the outlet to said water-venting means.

11. Vulcanizing apparatusr comprisim;` a container for the article to bevulcanized, means for injecting steam tangentially into the upper vpartthereof. and a temperaturecontrolled air-venting trap leading ofi Jfroma point near but substantially'above the bottom thereof.

12. Vulcanizing apparatus for annular articles, said apparatuscomprising a container for the articles to be vulcanized, fluid-ventingmeans leading` oll-7 from` the lower part thereof, a vertical ramtherein, a set of annular molds adapted to be stacked on said ram andthereby to form a chamber, said molds or said ram being so formed as toprovide an outlet from the lower part of said chamber, a lid for saidcontainer adapted to serve also as a perforate lid for said chamber andas an upper plat-en lor said ram, said cover being` formed with achannel adapted to connect said chamber with the outer space, about saidmolds, in said container, a fluid conduit leadingy into ysaid outerspace, and means for directing a current o'lf luid from said conduitinto the channel of said cover.

13. Vulcanizing apparatus for annular articles, said apparatuscomprising a container for the articles to be vulcanized, fluid-ventingmeans leading off from the lower part thereof, a vertical ram therein, aset oli' annular molds adapted to be stacked on said ram and thereby toform a chamber, said molds or said ram being so formed as to provide anoutletJ from the lowerpart of said chamber, a lid for said containeradapted to serve also as a pertorate lid for said chamber and as anupper platen for said ram, said cover being formed with a channeladapted to connect said chamber with the outer space, about said molds,in said container, and a fluid conduit opening into the upper part ofsaid space.

111. Vulcanizing apparatus for annular articles, said apparatuscomprising` a container for the articles to be vulcanized, a verticalram therein, a set of annular molds adapted tobe stacked on said ram andthereby to form a chamber, said molds or said ram being so formed as toprovide an outlet from the lower part of said chamber, a lid for saidcontainer adapted to serve also as a perforate lid for said chamber andas an upper platen for said ram, said cover being formed with a channeladapted to connect said chamber with the outer space, about said molds,in said container, a fluid conduit leading into said outer space, meansfor directing a current of fluid from said conduit into the channel ofsaid cover, and aireventing means leading olf from the lower part ofsaid container at a point substantially above the lowest part thereof.

15. Vulcanizing apparatus for annular articles, said 4apparatuscomprising a container for the articles to be vulcanized, a verticalyram therein, a set of annular molds adapted to be stacked on said ramand thereby to form a chamber, said molds or said ram being so formed asto provide an outlet from the lower part of said chamber', a lid forsaid container adapted to serve also as a perforate lid for said chamberand as an upper platen for said ram. said cover being formed with achannel adapted to connect said' chamber with the outer space, aboutsaid molds, in said container, a fluid conduit leading into said outerspace, means for directing a current of fluid from said conduit into thechannel of said cover, and a temperature-controlled, air-venting trapleading olli1 from the lower part of said container but at a pointsubstantially above the lowest part thereof.

16. Vulcanizing apparatus for annular articles, said apparatuscomprising a con* tainer for the articles to be vulcanized, duid-ventingmeans leading ofi from the lower part thereof, a vertical ram therein, aset oli annular molds adapted to be stacked on said ram and thereby toform a chainber, said molds or said ram being so formed as to provide anoutlet from the lower part ot said chamber, a lid for said containeradapted to serve also as a perforate lid for said chamber and as anupper platen for said ram, said cover being formed with a channeladapted to connect said chamber with the outer space, about said molds,in said container, a fluid conduit leading into said outer space, andmeans for directing a part of a current of luid from said conduit intothe channel 01"' said cover while permitting` the rest of said currentto llow into said outer space.

17. Vulcanizing apparatus for annular articles, said apparatuscomprising a container for the articles to be vulcanized, fluidventingmeans leading olif from the lower part thereof, a vertical ram therein,a set or" annular molds adapted to be stacked ou said ram and thereby to'form a chamber, said molds or said ram being so formed as to provide anoutlet from the lower part of said chamber, a lid for said containeradapted to serve also as a perlorate lid for said chamber and as anupper platen for said ram, said cover being formed with a channeladapted to connect said chamber with the outer space, about said molds,in said container, a fluid conduit leading into said outer space, andmeans for directing a part ol a current of fluid from said conduit intothe channel ol said cover and another part olf said current tangentiallyinto said space.

18. Vulcanizing apparatus for annular articles, said apparatuscomprising a container for the articles to be vulcanized, a

'ram therein, set ol' annular molds for said space, means for directinga part ol a.

current of steam therefrom into the channel of said container andanother part thereof tangentially in said space, a water-venting rapleading oli" from the lower part of said container, and atemperature-controlled airventing trap leading ol from the lower part ofsaid` container at a point above that from Which said water-venting trapleads.

19. Themethod or' vulc-anizing` annular articles whichV comprisesassembing in acontainer said articles substantially in axial alignmentto form an interior and an eX- terior heating chamber, admitting steaminto adjacent ends of each of said chambers in sucli manner as graduallyto crowd the air toward the other ends of the chambers, and venting thedisplaced air from the said, other ends of they chambers.

20. The method of vulcanizing annular articles which com-prisesenclosing the articles in annular molds, assembling said molds in acontainer substantially in axial alignment to form an interior and aneX- terior heating chamber, conducting` steam ifnto adjacent ends ofeach of said chambers in such manner as gradually to crowd the airtoward the other ends of the chambers, l

and venting the displaced air from the said other ends of the chambers.

21. The method of vulcanizing annular articles which comprisesassembling said ar-VV ticles in a substantially axially aligned seriesin an atmosphere of air, and Y displacing said air by so circulating acurrent of steam circumierentially with respect to said series` ofarticles as gradually to crowd the air from one end of said 'seriestoward the other end thereof.

22.V The method of vulcanizing articlesV which comprises enclosing saidarticles in molds, assembling said molds in an aligned series in anatmosphere of air, and displac' ing said air by so circulating a currentol steam transversely aroundV said series of moldsV as gradually tocrowd the air from-V one end of said series of molds toward the otherend thereof.

23. The method of vu'lica'nifzing an'a'irt":'i'clewhich comprisesenclosingsaid4 article in an atmosphere of air and' displacing saidvatmosphere with steam 'from above while' so venting the air as to permitits escape' independently of and without substantial 'admix'ture VWithaccumulated' Water of condensation, y.

24. The method' of vulcanizing `an articleA which comprises enclosingsaid article in an atmosphere of air and displacingjsaid at-l mospherewith steam fromabove while sep'` arately venting said' air and the water'of condensation from said steam. f

, 25. The method cfvul'canizing an article Ywhich comprisesenclosing'sa'i'd article in a ERNEST BLAKER,

